The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-27
SUFE COATED BY SMOKE.
Two Lives Lost in Burning House-Three
Other Persons Very Seriously Injured.

PITTsBURe, April 26-One of the most disas-
trous fires in this vicinity for some time broke
out this morning in Willis Brothers grocery, in
Allegheny City, entaiing loss of life, besides in
jury to several people and the destruction of
considerable property. The building which is
four story structure, and the largest in the
neighborhood. is used as a grocery by Charles.
John and George Willis. They and their mother
and some roomers occupy the upper stories
Shortly after l o'clock Mrs. Willis was awakened
by cracking noise and the smell of smoke.
Arising, she saw sparks coming up the elevator
in the rear portion of the building She alarmed
the inmates. and at the same time people OF the
outside discovered the fire and gave an alarm.
A number of people were known to be in the
burning building, ard the fremen Immediately
ran ladders to the various stories of the build
ing, while the police turned their attention to
breaking in the doors and fighting their
way to the rooms of the unfortanates. Up
stairs, bewildered by the smoke and flames,
were Mrs. Willis, Miss Olive Willis, Miss Mary
Willis. John Willis, VIM. Eberman (employed
a driver by firm) two Greeks named Hoggitz-
run and Prellerizer, who work for the Greek
American Candy Company and roomed in the
building; Fred Shultz. an employe of the firm;
Chas. Willis, Geo. Willis and Miss Sophie Boles.
.Thess people were first thought of by the fire.
men. and never has the Allegheny department
done better work The smoke thick and
hung in dense clouds through passages and hall
ways. To open a window from of the lad
ders thrown up against the building to
meet cloud of suffocating vapor, but into it
all, both fremen and police, plunged. The
heads of the frightened women were enveloped
in cloths, and they were carried out. all unn-
iured, except Sophie Boles. She could not be
found, and almost from the first was looked
upon as lost One of the most appalling incl
dents of the fire the jumping of two
Of the people from the building while the
fremen were fighting their way up stairs, Will
lam Eberman appeared at window the third
floor. He was too far gone to shout, but he was
seen, and the crowd yelled to him to hold on. A
ladder went up and man hastily started to
help the man. When the rescuer had reached
the second floor, Eberman was seen to lurch for
ward and thee come down with rush. Whether
he fell or jumped, could not be told. He fell on
his head and shoulders, and was picked up un-
conscious One of the Greeks, Hoegtzrun a
powerful man. was the other victim. His room
was on the fourth floor. The bravery of a man
in the crowd probably saved his life. The Greek
had poised himself on sill. looking at the
flames behind, and the pavement below.
and then made spring from the
sill. just as his body shot down
ward, man from the crowd ran
forward and. with arms outstretched, caught
the falling body. The force sent him to the
ground with the Greek. but the latter's head hit
the pavement, and it is though his skull is
fractured. The man who had run this great
risk for stranger disappeared, and the Greek
was carried away.
The fire held on stubbornly, and it was half
past o'clock before it was under control. A
search of the house was then made and the
bodies of Sophie Boles and Fred Schultz were
found on the fourth floor. They were still in
bed, and had evidently suffocated from smoke.
The injured Eberman and the two Greeks were
removed TO hospital. where they rest
ing easily. 1t is feared, however. that Eberman
and Hoggitzrun will not recover. The fire is
supposed to have been caused by an explosion
of natural gas. The loss is 500, 900; covered by
insurance.